problems.” I felt it wise not to bring up my trigger moment seeing the gun or the horrifying story Killian shared with me.
“No problems,” she repeated. “You’re okay.”
“Yep, perfect as a peach but hungry as a hippo!” I teased making reference to the game we all used to spend hours playing until it drove Mama Kerri bonkers with the noise of the slapping plastic hippo mouths as they clamped to eat the white balls.
“Soup’s on!” Mama called from the direction of the kitchen.
I inhaled the smell of Mexican food and my mouth watered.
I smiled wide. “Is the Sprite cooking with Mama?” I didn’t hide the hope in my tone. Liliana was an amazing cook. She’d taken it upon herself to learn how to make Mexican food, something her and her biological mother did before she died and the Sprite showed up here at nine years old. Her meals were restaurant quality, and I could not wait to fill my belly!
Simone blinked a few times as though trying to clear her mind of the worry and fear and switch gears. She smiled back and nodded excitedly. “Oh yeah. Apparently, she pissed off her bodyguard, so she’s angry-cooking.”
I hooked Simone around the shoulders and bumped Jonah playfully until he chuckled, the concern of Simone’s response to my being later than normal disappearing with every second that passed.
“We should poke the Sprite more often. Every time she’s mad we eat so well.” The smells of chilies and rice filtered through the air. I rubbed at my growling belly realizing the only thing I’d eaten were the two cookies that morning.
Together Simone and I went to the kitchen where I found what I’d hoped. Liliana at the stove fluffing a huge batch of Spanish rice. Three glass nine-by-twelve-inch trays of what I knew were enchiladas smoldered on the countertop covered in foil. Mama Kerri was at the counter mixing a family-sized salad.
“Those tomatoes from the garden?” I asked conversationally, letting Simone go and heading to Mama Kerri.
She studiously tossed the greens and veggies in the large wooden bowl. I leaned over and kissed her cheek.
“Just picked these beauties this afternoon along with a fresh yellow squash,” she boasted.
Mami Kerri was like a whimsical garden savant. The backyard looked like something out of a movie. Lush green trees, a sun garden, a greenhouse, and more. Three times she’d turned down both Blessing and I pushing her to submit pictures of her work to home and garden magazines. Claimed her bragging rights were her family eating healthy greens she’d grown herself and reminding us that her backyard would be a perfect place to get married. Something she’d started suggesting recently to Simone and Jonah whenever they were in attendance together at a family dinner or gathering.
Apparently, Jonah was all for tying the knot, but Simone was still skittish and wanted to live together for a year in their home first. Smart move if you asked me. Since Jonah just wanted Simone happy, he relented. Much to Mama Kerri’s dismay. The woman wanted more grandchildren and reminded us she wasn’t getting any younger, but we were most certainly getting older and should start settling down. None of that prevented us sisters from entering into a secret pool about when Simone and Jonah would get engaged. I’d been forced to contribute because betting wasn’t my thing, and I’d chosen their one-year anniversary.
“This looks so yum, Mama,” I cooed and patted her back before moving behind Liliana to look over her shoulder.
“Whoa, refried beans too? Who do I have to thank for pissing you off?” I wrapped my arm around Liliana’s waist, and she leaned back letting me give her a hug before she groaned.
“That stupid gran idiota,” she hissed.
“Big idiot eh? Sounds like fighting words.” I leaned against the counter and waited for Liliana to explode.
She stirred the beans rather viciously and I bit my tongue to hold back my laughter.
“So, he told me to stay put. What? No soy un perro. I don’t think so, big man!” she barked.
“I only caught a little bit of that, Lil. Something about treating you like a dog?” I gathered.
She held up a wooden spoon toward my face as though it were a weapon. Her coffee-colored eyes were blazing white-hot fire and her curls were bouncing all around her cheeks with her jerky movements. She was beautiful normally, but angry…watch out. Her high cheekbones boasted a rosy tinge, and her lips were a bruised dark burgundy, probably from biting on them